UConn prepares for Notre Dame, stretch of away games

UConn forward Napheesa Collier is fouled by DePaul guard Kelly Campbell. UConn is getting ready for a long stretch of away games starting with Notre Dame on Sunday. (John Woike / Hartford Courant)

After just six games, UConn is preparing to face its biggest test of the regular season on Sunday followed by the longest stretch of away games this year.

It’s a big week for the Huskies, who play No. 1 Notre Dame on Sunday before heading to St. Louis for senior Napheesa Collier’s homecoming game. The week will give UConn a clearer sense of where it stands, what to improve on, while kicking off a string of away games.

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“I’m really excited for this week,” Collier said. “It’s two good games, and I’m excited for both of them for different reasons. I mean, this is the week I’ve been looking forward to since the schedule came out, so I’m excited.”

A Learning Experience

As the Huskies get in their final practices ahead of Sunday’s game, UConn coach Geno Auriemma continues to remind his players that this is game seven. It’s not the Final Four — their season isn’t on the line. It’s a game, and while they would love to win it, the goal is still the same as every other game this early in the season: learn from it.

“I’ve always thought the earlier you find out about your team and about your players, the better off you’re going to be,” Auriemma said. “There can be no downside to this game after the game’s over. After this game, both coaches are going to feel like, ‘Well, I thought that was going to happen, something like that,’ and going to feel like, ‘I didn’t know we had that in us.’ Both coaches, I think, are going to know more about each individual player and their team as a whole by Sunday night. And the earlier you can find that out, the better you’re going to be.”

Collier’s Homecoming

When the Huskies leave South Bend, Ind., they’ll be headed to Missouri for their game against St. Louis. The game is Collier’s homecoming, and she already has plenty of family members planning to attend.

Not only will the senior get to play in front of her family and friends, but she’s also going to have her high school jersey retired.

“It’s really cool,” Collier said. “I didn’t know it was happening. I didn’t even know it was an option because I don’t think they’ve ever done it before.”

On The Road Again

If it feels like the Huskies just got back to Connecticut only to leave again, it’s because they did. UConn spent nearly an entire week in the U.S. Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam tournament, which the Huskies won, and returned last weekend. Now, they’re headed into a long stretch of away games in December and January.

The Huskies will play six of their next seven games on the road, returning just once before Christmas. Their one home game is against Seton Hall on Dec. 8 at the XL Center.

Junior Crystal Dangerfield said the best way to look at it is day-by-day so they don’t get overwhelmed by the amount of travel they’re facing.

“That starts with tomorrow,” Dangerfield said, mapping out her mind-set. “We’ll take care of practice in the morning, travel and then wake up on Sunday and have pregame and everything. If you break it down and take it day-by-day, it’ll be OK.”